The principal speakers upon it were Mr. Fox, Mr. Burke, Sir William Dolben, Lord Penrhyn, and Mr. Gascoyn. The two last were members from Liverpool, and were strongly opposed to meddling with the question of the abolition of the slave-trade at any time.
Mr. Fox wished that there might be no delay; he said he was sorry the consideration of the question, but more particularly where so much human suffering was concerned, should be put off to another session, when it was obvious that no advantage could be gained by delay.
At length, when the question was put, the resolution was agreed to unanimously. Thus ended the first discussion that ever took place in the commons on this important subject. This debate, though many of the persons concerned in it abstained cautiously from entering into the merits of the general question, became interesting in consequence of circumstances attending it. Several rose up at once to give relief, as it were, to their feelings by utterance; but by so doing, they were prevented, many of them, from being heard. They who were heard, spoke with peculiar energy, as if warmed in an extraordinary manner by the subject. There was an apparent enthusiasm in behalf of the injured Africans. It was supposed by some that there was a moment in which, if the chancellor of the exchequer had moved for an immediate abolition of the trade, he would have carried it that night.
About this time, Mr. Clarkson brought out his powerful essay on the impolicy of the slave-trade, which was circulated in great numbers by the committee. Their efforts had aroused the feelings of the whole English nation, and had attracted the notice of many distinguished persons throughout Europe and America. As soon as the session was over, Mr. Clarkson again undertook a journey, visiting all the seaports between Kent and Cornwall. His object was to find out new witnesses to strengthen the cause, and form auxiliary committees. The committee, meantime, were indefatigable; they had addressed the rulers of Spain, Portugal, and Sweden; they had circulated five new works, besides the engraving which we have copied of the interior of a slave ship, exhibiting the closely packed bodies of the negroes.
On the 19th of March, 1789, Mr. Wilberforce moved in the House of Commons that the house should, on the 29th of April, take into consideration its resolution of the last session. The motion was agreed to, but it was the signal for all those who supposed themselves interested in the continuance of the trade, such as merchants, planters, manufacturers, mortgagees, and others, to begin a tremendous opposition. Meetings were called, and frightful resolutions passed. The public papers were filled with them; and pamphlets issued, filled with the most bitter invectives against all engaged in the movement. Emancipation was industriously confounded with the abolition of the trade. Compensation was demanded in a monstrous degree. The cry was such that many began to be staggered about the propriety of the total abolition of the trade. Calculations exhibited that the number of slaves in the British West Indies amounted to 410,000, and that to keep up that number the annual importation of 10,000 was required; that the English procured in Africa 30,000
